Comments on: Figuring out Pittsburgh http://www.bigeasthoops.com/2006/12/22/figuring-out-pittsburgh/ Bloggin' Big East basketball since way back (2006). Thu, 28 Aug 2008 10:01:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: Big East Hoops » Blog Archive » Pittsburgh 63, Connecticut 54 - all about Big East Basketball http://www.bigeasthoops.com/2006/12/22/figuring-out-pittsburgh/#comment-237 Wed, 17 Jan 2007 05:06:35 +0000 http://www.bigeasthoops.com/2006/12/22/figuring-out-pittsburgh/#comment-237 [...] And yet, the game was close.  Connecticut was within seven with a few minutes left, even though Pittsburgh played a near-perfect game. Everything went right for Pitt: Gray got great position all day long, and Ramon went 4-4 from three. And that’s when it hit me. I’ve been wondering what’s wrong with Pittsburgh all year long, and I finally was able to put my finger on it: in the words of Clark Kellogg, they have no spurtability. The Panthers play an extremely rigid half court game where each player touches the ball. It looks beautiful to a control freak, and it is gorgeous to see them get the ball to Aaron Gray at exactly the right moment in exactly the right position. But I think they ignore the flow of the game and sometimes force this structure on the game. Case in point: Ramon. It was pretty evident that he was feeling it tonight. And yet there was no effort to get him the ball — no plays set to run him off of screens, no high picks when he had the ball up top, etc. My prediction: later this season Pittsburgh will fail to close an opponent out due to their adherence to their half-court set. [...] […] And yet, the game was close.  Connecticut was within seven with a few minutes left, even though Pittsburgh played a near-perfect game. Everything went right for Pitt: Gray got great position all day long, and Ramon went 4-4 from three. And that’s when it hit me. I’ve been wondering what’s wrong with Pittsburgh all year long, and I finally was able to put my finger on it: in the words of Clark Kellogg, they have no spurtability. The Panthers play an extremely rigid half court game where each player touches the ball. It looks beautiful to a control freak, and it is gorgeous to see them get the ball to Aaron Gray at exactly the right moment in exactly the right position. But I think they ignore the flow of the game and sometimes force this structure on the game. Case in point: Ramon. It was pretty evident that he was feeling it tonight. And yet there was no effort to get him the ball — no plays set to run him off of screens, no high picks when he had the ball up top, etc. My prediction: later this season Pittsburgh will fail to close an opponent out due to their adherence to their half-court set. […]

]]> by: donald http://www.bigeasthoops.com/2006/12/22/figuring-out-pittsburgh/#comment-123 Wed, 27 Dec 2006 04:22:27 +0000 http://www.bigeasthoops.com/2006/12/22/figuring-out-pittsburgh/#comment-123 Gray is an elevator rebounder. I do think he's a bit overrated, too. But I don't think he's their problem... Gray is an elevator rebounder. I do think he’s a bit overrated, too. But I don’t think he’s their problem…

]]> by: Mister D http://www.bigeasthoops.com/2006/12/22/figuring-out-pittsburgh/#comment-120 Tue, 26 Dec 2006 15:03:36 +0000 http://www.bigeasthoops.com/2006/12/22/figuring-out-pittsburgh/#comment-120 I'm not sure Pitt is a quick enough team when Gray is out on the floor. They've got some speed at the guard position (Fields, Ramon, Graves), but Coach Dixon doesn't take advantage of that speed--insisting on playing that slow, half-court game. It makes sense if you want to get Gray involved in the offense, but he hurts your transition game. Which brings me to another point I've been meaning to bring up: does anyone else think that Gray is over-rated? Granted, he's big, he can rebound fairly well, and he's got great touch. However, he's slow, his footwork (especially on defense) is below average, and I sense that he's soft...that is, he'll snag rebounds because he's the biggest guy out there, not because he's out-toughing the opponent. Comments? I’m not sure Pitt is a quick enough team when Gray is out on the floor. They’ve got some speed at the guard position (Fields, Ramon, Graves), but Coach Dixon doesn’t take advantage of that speed–insisting on playing that slow, half-court game. It makes sense if you want to get Gray involved in the offense, but he hurts your transition game.

Which brings me to another point I’ve been meaning to bring up: does anyone else think that Gray is over-rated? Granted, he’s big, he can rebound fairly well, and he’s got great touch. However, he’s slow, his footwork (especially on defense) is below average, and I sense that he’s soft…that is, he’ll snag rebounds because he’s the biggest guy out there, not because he’s out-toughing the opponent.

Comments?

]]> by: Dan'l B http://www.bigeasthoops.com/2006/12/22/figuring-out-pittsburgh/#comment-115 Sat, 23 Dec 2006 03:33:24 +0000 http://www.bigeasthoops.com/2006/12/22/figuring-out-pittsburgh/#comment-115 We can't call them underachievers anymore, but there's still hope that a better Panther team will break out in 2007. We can’t call them underachievers anymore, but there’s still hope that a better Panther team will break out in 2007.

]]> by: Big Willie Style http://www.bigeasthoops.com/2006/12/22/figuring-out-pittsburgh/#comment-114 Fri, 22 Dec 2006 18:56:46 +0000 http://www.bigeasthoops.com/2006/12/22/figuring-out-pittsburgh/#comment-114 Of course, look at all their victories last year. Yes, they beat Nova at MSG, but Krauser poking out Allan Ray's eye had to help with that. Other than that, their best victory all year was West Virginia. Maybe they're not that good. I still think they can be, but they better get their act together fast, because teams like Georgetown, Marquette and UConn are all aggressive teams who will be looking to take it to this struggling team. Of course, look at all their victories last year. Yes, they beat Nova at MSG, but Krauser poking out Allan Ray’s eye had to help with that. Other than that, their best victory all year was West Virginia. Maybe they’re not that good. I still think they can be, but they better get their act together fast, because teams like Georgetown, Marquette and UConn are all aggressive teams who will be looking to take it to this struggling team.

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